Thursday, April 9
Gumshoe in Space
It goes without saying that detectives investigate crimes that originated on Earth. Some cases, though, involve things that come from beyond the atmosphere, and Joseph Gutheinz is there to solve them. Gutheinz led the 1990s-era Operation Lunar Eclipse, which tracked down a stolen moon rock from the Apollo 17 mission. That investigation spurred Gutheinz to take a deeper dive into the moon rocks and lunar dust that had been gifted to states and nations, finding that there wasn’t any accountability on behalf of NASA and the recipients to safeguard these out-of-this-world objects. Gutheinz will speak on his career of tracking down moon rocks and tackling international fraud. [EC]
6-7:30pm Thursday, April 9. Monterey Peninsula College Library, Building #16, Sam Karas Room, Monterey. Free. RSVP at mpc.edu/moonrocktalk. (831) 655-5507.
Garage Band
Writing a bill for a performance like Abby Jeanne & The Shadow Band requires a felt-tipped sharpie. That’s a metaphor for writing in bold, because these girls come ready to rock. Guitar, drums, bass and vocals – simple enough for a garage in New York City and elegant enough for Pop & Hiss in Pacific Grove. With a ’50s and ’60s doo-wop tone, your dancing shoes will probably need more tread by the time they’re finished playing. The vocals of the group, led by Milwaukee born-and-raised Jeanne, have been compared to that of Etta James, while the rest of the band has the garage-punk influence of bands like The Ramones and mixed with a dash of The Ronettes. They get a local warm-up from opening band The Turistas – a perfect welcome wagon after a long trip from New York City. [SC]
7pm Thursday, April 9. Pop & Hiss, 215 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. $5. (831) 275-3303. popandhiss.net.
Thursday-Sunday, April 9-12
Says Who
If the Cat in the Hat is your spirit animal, oh the thinks you can think. For example, you might think that Horton and Gertrude set out to save the Whos down in Whoville, but Horton once again is left sitting on lazy Mayzie’s egg. And things only get worse for the faithful Elephant, who first ends up in the circus and then on trial for loitering on said egg. Then think that Judge Yertle the Turtle finds him guilty. Now think that there is more to the story, that it is narrated in part by the Cat and that it’s all set to song. Such is Seussical, the Broadway hit on stage at Monterey Peninsula College, directed by Todd Siff. [DF]
7pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 2pm Sundays, April 9-19. Monterey Peninsula College, Morgan Stock Stage, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. $22; $12/students, staff, seniors, military; $7/children. (831) 645-1360, mpc.edu.
Friday, April 10
Climb Every Mountain
After 33 years of failed attempts, a group of four climbers made history in 2024 with the first free ascent of Riders on the Storm in Patagonia. The literal and figurative storms they endured are recounted in a short films in the Banff Mountain Film Fest on April 10.
Have you planned a fun outing with a 2-and-a-half-year-old? Maybe you go to the playground. Some people, like dads Jakob and Konne, take toddlers Emil and Karl on a six-day bikepacking trip through the Swiss Alps. And that’s pretty tame for the stories unfurled in the Banff Mountain Film Festival, an annual compilation of short films documenting stories of humans doing wild and wonderful (and sometimes risky) things in wild and wonderful places. Ultimately these are stories about people. The intergenerational story above is told in the German film Emil Und Karl; in a Canadian short A Baffin Vacation, a love story is put to the test in a land of ice. Visit Patagonia, Japan, France and beyond in this evening of stunning scenery and tales of amazing human feats – and as a bonus, it’s a benefit for the nonprofit Habitat Stewardship Project. [SR]
6pm Friday, April 10. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $41. (831) 582-368, habitatstewardshipproject.org.
Off to See the Wizard
Follow the yellow brick road to Oz, but be careful not to slip and fall. Wizard of Oz on Ice brings Olympic skaters putting a new twist on the classic in Carmel on April 10.
Dorothy and Co. were thrilled when the Wicked Witch of the West uttered the words: “I’m melting, melting!” But in this instance, they would be terrified. That’s because they’ll all be skating during Wizard of Oz on Ice, so no melting here. Presented by Ice Creative Entertainment, the classic story finds new life with high-flying Olympic skaters, elaborate costumes and a fresh soundtrack. Who knew the Tin Man was so flexible? [EC]
7:30pm Friday, April 10. Sunset Cultural Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. $49-$79. (831) 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.
Saturday, April 11
On The Block
Headlining Saturday’s lineup on the main stage at the Monterey Museum of Art’s fourth annual block party on April 11 is Sensory Tribe, a local, eight-member band that plays a blend of Latin, hip-hop and reggae music..
The Monterey Museum of Art is bringing its creative energy to the community with its fourth annual block party, free and open to all, transforming Monterey into a vibrant gathering space where you can discover local artisans, see performances, make your own creations and more. Guests ages 21-and-up can keep the celebration going with a dance party under the stars later in the evening. [KR]
11am-4pm,Saturday, April 11. In and around Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific St., Monterey. Free; $25/dance party. (831) 372-5477, montereyart.org.
Devil Music
Violinist Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu will perform the Devil’s Trill alongside pianist Ines Irawati at the Spyglass Garden House in Pebble Beach Saturday, April 11.
One night in 1713, Italian composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini dreamt he made a pact with the devil for his soul. In the dream, he handed the devil his violin and the Evil One subsequently played the most awe-inspiring and technically difficult sonata the composer had ever heard. Upon waking, Tartini attempted to recreate the piece, which he called the Devil’s Trill. On Saturday, April 11, violinist Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu performs the forbidden sonata alongside Ines Irawati on piano for Sunkiss’d Mozart’s first concert in its Peninsula Series, “Virtuosus.” [AS]
3pm Saturday, April 11. Spyglass Garden House, 1062 Spyglass Woods Drive, Pebble Beach. $50; $15/youth. skmozart.com.
In Harmony
The Aria women’s choir performs three times each year, and for its spring show on April 11 is accompanied by pianist Jon-Mark Hurley (see details, p. 28).
Starting in 2012, a group of women decided to sing together, focused on music meant for the stage, best heard in a live performance. They created the auditioned Aria women’s choir, which is back for its spring concert tradition fittingly titled “She Sings!” This seasonal appearance, one of three each year, emphasizes newly composed or arranged music that resonates with contemporary ears. The choir’s Tuesday evening rehearsals in Pacific Grove are open to the public, but this concert is a chance to hear their polished performance on a beautifully remodeled stage. [SR]
7pm Saturday, April 11. Founders Theatre, Golden Bough Playhouse, Monte Verde between 8th and 9th, Carmel. $21-$36. (831) 622-0100, ariamonterey.org.
String Theory
What if an emerging artist is emerging – as in studying music at the prestigious San Francisco Conservatory of Music – but is already an award-winning performer with enough accolades that you could say he has already made it? Well, you would have classical guitarist Kaz Hudson. While a lot of musicians can make the six-string speak, in Hudson’s hands it can inquire, caress, encourage, sing, dance, explore the ages, places and languages of the world. He performs as part of the Carmel Guitar Society’s 2026 concert series lineup. [DF]
7pm Saturday, April 11. Pacific Grove Art Center, 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. $40. (831) 316-3230, carmelguitarsociety.org.
Latin Party
For those itching for a fun night on the dance floor, Los Portales is a must-stop this Saturday night. DJ Tino and El Tpo de Mexico, a musical group based in Los Angeles, play an array of Latin rhythms, from modern and classic Mexican regional music to cumbia, including hits such as “En Tu Pelo” and “La Reynalda.” Live music on weekends has become a staple at Los Portales. Enjoy a vibrant music scene and fill up on Mexican food. [CJ]
8pm-midnight Saturday, April 11. Los Portales Mexican Food, 1022 Broadway Ave., Seaside. $41. (831) 394-7294, bit.ly/4c2NZ78.
Saturday, April 11-Sunday, April 12
Whale Time
In the middle of the 19th century, around the time Herman Melville wrote Moby-Dick (1851), whaling was an important industry in Monterey. Back then, Portuguese whalers had been known to pursue gray and humpback whales for oil and baleen – whalebone used to make corsets and umbrellas. Today, Monterey Bay is a place to see whales year-round and learn about these remarkable creatures. To celebrate this, Whalefest, is a two-day festival devoted to all things whale, this year is its 16th edition. On offer are a symposium, exhibits, hands-on marine activities and vessel tours, to name a few attractions. [AP]
10am-5pm Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12. Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Custom House Plaza, Monterey. whalefestmonterey@gmail.com, whalefest.org.
Sunday, April 12
Baby Goats
If you’re over a certain age, running might feel like a chore – something that requires a change of clothes, a warm-up routine, stretching. If you’re a kid (human or goat variety), running resembles frolicking; it looks effortless and enjoyable. Moms and runners Marketa Daly and Svatka Wright created a children’s running club to give kids (of the human variety) a chance to get outside, get some exercise and have fun. Now they’re hosting their first-ever youth race, the Tail Goats Adventure Run, with a 1.5-mile route and a 5K. All skill levels are welcome and every finisher gets a medal; parents are welcome to run alongside young participants. Runners of all ages are expected to show up ready to have fun, whether they’re trying to push their limits or just to smell the wildflowers. [SR]
9am Sunday, April 12. Garland Ranch Regional Park, 700 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. $15. (650) 313-9423, raceroster.com.
Berlin Jazz
A hundred years ago, Berlin was pulsing with jazz and modernism, shocking the world with new artistic expressions, new fashion and new social norms. Jazz of that time had captured that spirit of avant-garde and an ecstatic chaos of the coming unknown. I Cantori di Carmel goes back to the 1920s with this fundraiser event, Cabaret Fortuna, which will support the nonprofit’s new youth chorus, and invites attendees to dress for the occasion with vintage flair. [AP]
3pm Sunday, April 12. Carmel Woman’s Club, 9th and San Carlos, Carmel. $65. (831) 644-8012, icantori.org.
Tuesday, April 14
Instrument Of Peace
There are few violin recitals a person really must see. This is one – The Hibaku Violin: World Peace Prayer Performance, with Kanon Yasuzuka from Japan, joined by the talented Monterey County youth Katherine Lin. Hibaku translates as “bombed.” The violin Yasuzuka brings to Monterey survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, making the instrument itself a marvel. Anthony Drago joins the evening to speak about his book, Surviving Hiroshima. The world tour makes some important stops: The Smithsonian, Guernica, Berlin, Auschwitz, The Vatican, as well as Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So the performance is quite an honor for Monterey. [DF]
6:30pm Tuesday, April 14. Japanese American Citizens League Hall, 424 Adams St., Monterey. Free; RSVP required. (831) 648-8830, jaclmonterey.org.
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